Legal bid to block top cop ex-ruc man ‘lacks independence’ to probe killings
A RELATIVE of a woman killed in a loyalist bomb has launched a legal bid to stop Drew Harris starting his job as Garda chief.
Ciaran Macairt, whose grandmother Kathleen Irvine was one of 15 people killed in Mcgurk’s Bar in Belfast in 1971, brought the action.
He says Mr Harris lacks the independence required for the role due to his work in the PSNI and RUC.
He claimed he could not direct or control an inquiry into the murder of an Irish citizen where there is credible evidence of collusion between the killers and the RUC or agencies of the British State, including the Dublin/monaghan bombings.
Mr Harris is due to start his new role next month.
Mr Macairt claims that due to his senior role with the PSNI, Mr Harris has possession of information directly relevant to a Garda probe into the murder of Irish citizens.
He claims Mr Harris has signed and is bound by the UK’S Offical Secrets Act making it impossible to fully discharge his duties. This HORRIFIC Mcgurk’s pub bomb in 1971 conflict it is claimed is incompatible with the duties of Section 5 of the Garda Siochana Act, in particular to State security and the investigation of crime.
Mr Macairt has written a book about and researched the Mcgurk’s bombing and is a director of the charity Paper Trail which supports victims and survivors of the Troubles.
He claims he has been trying to get to the truth behind the bombing.
The RUC initially blamed it on an IRA bomb being accidentally detonated when in fact it was deliberately planted in the bar by the UVF.
One of their members, Robert Campbell was jailed for the atrocity in 1977. However Mr Macairt says there was never a proper investigation into the bombing, and claims there was an RUC cover-up.
He claims his efforts to find the truth have been frustrated by the PSNI, and been obstructed by Deputy Chief Constable Harris.
It is claimed that as part of his role with the PSNI, Mr Harris had responsibility for the Historical Enquiries Team which investigated the bombing.
It produced four reports, which Mr Macairt says Mr Harris had the final say over, into the bombings.
The findings were rejected by the victims of the blast as the allegations of collusion between loyalists and police were not addressed.
The matter came before Ms Justice Miriam O’regan at yesterday’s sitting of the High Court.
The judge granted permission, on an ex parte basis, for Mr Macairt’s lawyers to make an application for leave to bring his judicial proceedings on notice to the state respondents.
The matter will return before the court on Tuesday.